A Journey to Worship

I remember the exact moment I decided what I wanted to do when I grew up. I was sitting in the backseat of my parents green, 70 's Ford LTD (Saaaawwweeett!). I was seven, going on eight, and my mom, brother, and I were waiting in the car for my dad to pay the bill at the little cafeteria in our neighborhood we frequented. I remember I was singing along to a tape mom had going and was staring out the window. After the song was over, mom looked back at me and said, "Honey, you sang that song really nicely. You have a great voice!"

It's amazing the power of a parents words. Those words changed my life from that moment and gave me a vision for my future. I remember thinking to myself that I wanted to sing. And not just sing, but be really good at it. A couple months later I began voice lessons. I worked really hard and practiced every day. I continued taking lessons from various people up until high school.

Then, the real training began.

I began taking lessons from Tommy through high school and college. I was beginning to lose confidence in my vocal capabilities as my voice was unpredictable and inconsistent as a teenager. Tommy was one of those people who encouraged me to do my best despite my teen aged, squeaky voice. He wouldn't put up with my pathetic self-pity and pushed me to do what he knew I capable of. I am grateful for the training I had with him. I learned how to really sing.

One of the things that Tommy taught me has stuck with me over the years and was this: God gives the gift of musicality. How great it is to take this gift and improve upon it. Not only does this advance our talent, but it honors God by acknowledging and doing our part to refine the gift. I LOVE that!

After college and getting married, I knew I wanted to do something with my singing and I also knew I wanted to use my voice for God in some way, but honestly, I really didn't have a clue what direction I should take. Da Hubby and I decided to join a church near our home and both became part of the worship team there. A couple of years later the church hired a new worship leader by the name of Sparrow.

God used Sparrow to change my whole perception of singing about Him. In fact, he changed my whole concept of what worship is and how I needed to incorporate that into my life. Singing from that moment on became a side issue and worship came to the front and center of my life.

Sparrow helped me focus first, on my own daily walk with Christ. Living worship as a"lifestyle." Then, draw others to Christ through worship leading, ultimately helping to establish and/or grow other's relationship with Jesus.

I now use my voice to worship and praise my awesome God. Not just sing about Him, but to and for Him alone. Vocalizing my adoration of Him spills over from my desire to worship Him in ALL aspects of my life, not just when I am holding a microphone or listening to music.

I know why God led my mom to make that comment almost 30 years ago that first peeked my interest to be a singer. I see why I went through all the years of training with Tommy and others to be able to sing properly and effectively. I look back and understand why Sparrow was in my life to mentor me and prepare my heart to be a leader. I needed all of those things because my heart craves and hungers to worship an Almighty God who loves me more than I can imagine. Using my voice as a tool, a vehicle, I worship Him, not because He forces me to, but because I want to. I really want to. I hope those who hear me sing don't see some chick who has a voice, but a face that reflects gratitude to and amazement of my Heavenly Father.

All those things that have led me to this point, have sent me on journey to worship my Saviour. Along the way, God used and is using certain people to align my footsteps to the right paths to take to get to my destination. I am still traveling and all the while on the way I will continue to commune with my God. I am grateful for the privilege to openly live my life for Him.

I love Him, I love Him, I love Him.

Friday Night Videos

Love this song. Love this video. LOVE what it stands for.

A Love that Lasts for Eternity

I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. That cry that sounded more like a the bleating of a sheep than that of a newborn baby. Little did we know that sweet, soft cry would develop into four months of demanding and shrill screams of a colicky baby. Exhausting days of constant crying does wear on a parent. I can look back at those four months now and smile.

After the colic subsided, a whole new lovable, joyful, and precious boy appeared in our home. Life truly hasn't been the same since. Fast forward almost seven years later and that boy continues to bring unimaginable laughter into our family.

Da Hubby and I joke about writing a book with the title of, "Things You Never Thought You Would Have to Say to Your Child." A few of those comments would be, "We do not lick our napkins," or, "Please do not brush the dog's teeth with your toothbrush." Then there's the infamous, "Honey, Legos do not belong in your bottom." Of course, this book would be solely dedicated to the receiver of most corrections such as this, our sweet boy, Duglin.

One thing Duglin has always been, however, is a lover. He loves everyone and everything. There are no conditions in his eyes. If you have a heartbeat and breathe, you are loved. I believe that is why his amazing decision to follow Christ this past week was a given for him.

He can't explain the Trinity with eloquence or define why God makes the decisions He does or give deep theological reasoning for pre-destination vs. not. But he knows with his child like faith that Jesus loves him and died because of it. To Duglin, that is more than enough. It should be for us, too.

As a Christ follower it's these moments that you pray for as you are rocking them to sleep as tiny infants. You stare into their beautiful, sweet faces and pray that they honor God with thier talents and their lives. I remember asking God prior to having kids not to give them to us unless they would become lovers of Him. I really wanted kids. But even more than that, I REALLY wanted kids who loved Jesus. I understood alot of that had to do with the way Da hubby and I would raised them, and we were and still are totally willing to do our part. We fail, however. ALOT. It is our desire to live what we believe, but we take no credit. It is all God's amazing grace.

As each of our children begins his/her journey with the hand of our Saviour in theirs, I can't help but to believe it's a promise fulfilled. I will continue to pray for them and the protection of their hearts as each of them learns to worship Him in their own personal way and chooses to follow a lovingly beat out path that their Father has portioned out for each of their lives.

A week ago Monday he sweetly and quietly asked Jesus to live in his heart. Tears of joy welled up in our eyes as he did. It was a precious moment. And, in Duglin fashion, he took a deep breath after his prayer and asked his daddy if he could go play Legos now. That's my boy!

Sunday after church, among dozens of friends and family he was baptised by his father. Da Hubby and I are so blessed to have two boys who have dedicated their lives to Christ. Perri is still young, but is so wonderful to see her eyes being turned from herself to a loving and passionate God. It's only a matter of time with her!

So, it has been very exciting week in the Balentine household! Thought you might like to celebrate with us and see the video of his baptism. Stick around long enought to watch him "swim" out of the baptistry. Enjoy!

David Crowder, Craftiness, and Babies!

Last night Da Hubby and I took our oldest son, Daylor to go see David Crowder in concert. He received tickets for his birthday. Just two words - Awe-Some! We had a blast and had great seats so we all had an amazing night worshipping together just the three of us and about 1000 others! It's such a blessing to see Daylor growing up desiring to please God and already making a commitment to following the path that has been portioned to him by his Maker. I love watching my kids worship! Really there is nothing more to me exciting than that!


I love this picture because I love the silhouettes of the hands raised up. (Goosebumps!) Wow, if worship is this good here, can you imagine what it will be like when we are right there before the Father? Can't wait!

Also, recently I joined a "craft circle" with a bunch of friends. I used to be crafty before my kids came, but since then I have just not had time to do anything. My friend Jennifer invited me to come one night and I have been hooked ever since! These are a couple of the things I have made so far. It's so much better when you have friends to chat around with while making stuff!

This was my first project and was so much fun. I wish I had made the letters of "grateful" in black so that you could see them better. Ya craft, ya learn!

I really like the way this turned out, but let me say it was a BOOGER to do! Not so much hard, but time consuming. All the leaves are cut from various types of paper and take FOREVER to cut out. However, I do have a new BFF. Glue guns - they are ubber-awesome!! You can glue ANYTHING with a glue gun...including your fingers. (Did I mention they are hot? )

Jenn totally wins the award for Crafty-Queen as she found all these ideas and has a million more she is doing. I just copied. She does have some fun (and cheap) stuff on her blog to do, so you should go check it out!

Speaking of Jennifer, she and David are at the hospital today having their new baby boy, Charlie. Just wanted you guys to know we are praying for you and that we are looking forward to meeting the little dude!!

(This is Jennifer's picture that I stole from her blog, but since I took this picture of them, it's technically not stealing, is it?)

Coffee with Jesus...

Hmmm, does this seem familiar?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKr8-Apcfu8

Makes ya think, doesn't it?